Process for insitu treatment of soil and groundwater

Abstract

A process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume, the process comprises the steps of: installing a permeable reactive barrier in the flow path of the groundwater plume, wherein the installation of the permeable reactive barrier comprises the steps of: boring a first borehole with a portion longitudinally extending substantially parallel with an upper surface of the groundwater plume; filling the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with a reactive material comprising a solid reactant configured to react with the at least one contaminant in the groundwater plume to produce at least one product having less hazardous characteristics than the at least one contaminant; boring a second borehole with a portion proximate, substantially adjacent or overlapping the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole; and filling the portion of the second borehole proximate, substantially adjacent or overlapping the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole, with the reactive material.

1. A process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume, the process comprises the steps of:
 installing a permeable reactive barrier in the flow path of the groundwater plume, wherein the installation of the permeable reactive barrier comprises the steps of:
 boring a first borehole with a portion longitudinally extending substantially parallel with an upper surface of the groundwater plume; 
 filling the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with a reactive material comprising a solid reactant configured to react with the at least one contaminant in the groundwater plume to produce at least one product having less hazardous characteristics than the at least one contaminant; 
 boring a second borehole with a portion substantially adjacent or overlapping the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole; 
 said first borehole and said second borehole having a common head; and 
 filling the portion of the second borehole substantially adjacent the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with the reactive material; passing at least a portion of the groundwater plume having the at least one contaminant through a portion of the permeable reactive barrier; and 
 
 reacting at least a portion of the at least one contaminant with a portion of the permeable reactive barrier to produce at least one product having less hazardous characteristics than the at least one contaminant. 
 
     
     
       2. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said solid reactant of said reactive material is an oxidant or a reductant. 
     
     
       3. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 2  wherein said solid reactant of said reactive material is selected from the group consisting of peroxides, permanganates, persulfates, hypochlorite solutions, ozone, zero valent iron, fluorine, sodium bisulfate, metabisulfide, polysulfides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said solid reactant of said reactive material comprises particles substantially encapsulated with an encapsulant having a characteristic selected from the group consisting of substantially oleophilic, hydrophobic, siliphilic, hydrocarbon soluble, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said steps of boring said first and said second boreholes comprises boring with a drill head having a duckbill attached thereto. 
     
     
       6. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said steps of boring said first and said second boreholes comprises boring with a slurry comprising said reactive material. 
     
     
       7. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said steps of boring said first and said second boreholes comprise water jetting with said slurry comprising said reactive material. 
     
     
       8. The process for insitu treatment of at least one contaminant in a groundwater plume of  claim 1  wherein said step of filling the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with a reactive material and said step of filling the portion of the second borehole substantially adjacent the longitudinally extending portion of the first borehole with the reactive material, comprise inserting a tube or pipe configured to permit flow of water through a circumferential surface thereof, said tube or pipe containing said reactive material. 
     
     
       9. A process for the installation of a permeable reactive barrier comprising the steps of:
 drilling a borehole head with a drill bit on a directional drill rig, the directional drill rig being configured to provide a change in direction in a borehole; 
 changing the direction of the drilling at a first point in the borehole head and providing a portion of a first borehole that is substantially parallel with an upper surface of an aquifer; 
 retracting the drill bit to the borehole head; 
 changing the direction of the drilling at a second point in the borehole head, above or below the first point in the borehole head, and providing a portion of a second borehole extending proximate with and above or below the portion of the first borehole that is substantially parallel with an upper surface of an aquifer; and 
 feeding a solid reactant into the portion of the first borehole that is substantially parallel with an upper surface of an aquifer and the portion of the second borehole extending proximate with and above or below the portion of the first borehole that is substantially parallel with an upper surface of an aquifer. 
 
     
     
       10. The process for the installation of a permeable reactive bather of  claim 9  further comprising of:
 retracting the drill bit to the borehole head; 
 changing the direction of the drilling at a third point in the borehole head, above or below the second point in the borehole head, and providing a portion of a third borehole extending proximate with and above or below the portion of the second borehole that is proximate with a portion of the first borehole; and 
 feeding a solid reactant into the portion of the third borehole that is extending proximate with and above or below the portion of the second borehole. 
 
     
     
       11. The process for the installation of a permeable reactive barrier of  claim 9  wherein the directional drill rig is placed upon the surface of the soil prior to drilling. 
     
     
       12. The process for the installation of a permeable reactive barrier of  claim 9  wherein said solid reactant comprises at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of peroxides, permanganates, persulfates, hypochlorite solutions, ozone, zero valent iron, fluorine, sodium bisulfate, metabisulfide, polysulfides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The process for the installation of a permeable reactive barrier of  claim 9  wherein the directional drill rig bit comprises a duckbill. 
     
     
       14. The process for the installation of a permeable reactive barrier of  claim 9  wherein the directional drill rig comprises a sonde or transmitter located behind the drill bit, the sonde or transmitter being configured to report the angle, rotation, and direction of the drill bit to a directional drill rig operator.